The Birdwoman's Palate

Aruna works on bird flu as an epidemiologist, and food is her other great love. When she is given the job of looking into a few unconnected cases of avian flu reported in distant corners of Indonesia, the disease has already hit her aunt's farm in West Java. Still, the trip lets her escape Jakarta, a city she finds corrupt and wearing. Three friends travel with her: a famous chef, a well-travelled food lover and Farish, a colleague. Between Medan, Surabaya, Palembang and Pontianak they taste the local dishes, and every meal teaches her more about how food is bound up with politics and friendship. Looking at her country and her own life anew, she starts to think about pursuing what she has only dreamed of.

AI-generated summary

About the book

Form

Novel

Length

427 pages in the original

First published

2014 by Gramedia Pustaka Utama

ISBN

9786020308524 (original)

9781503937345 (AmazonCrossing, United States)